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Celtic Symholism: "Ocean Blessings & Sea Prayers"

I found some curious examples of "Ocean Blessings & Sea Prayers" on the collection of folk poetry from the Western Isles of Scotland: Carmina Gadelica - Hymns and Incantations -Ortha Nan Gaidheal - Volume I -by Alexander Carmichael -[1900]
. Carmichael spent years collecting folklore from the vanishing
cultures of Scotland. The poems in this volume include prayers,
invocations, blessings and charms. English
translations are done by the author, and the beautiful initials from
the first edition. They are a synthesis of Christian and pre-Christian
belief systems. All rights reserved by the author.

SEA prayers and sea hymns were common amongst the seafarers of the
Western Islands. Probably these originated with the early Celtic
missionaries, who constantly traversed in their frail skin coracles the
storm-swept, strongly tidal seas of those Hebrid Isles, oft and oft
sealing their devotion with their lives.

Before embarking on a journey the voyagers stood round their boat and
prayed to the God of the elements for a peaceful voyage over the stormy
sea. The steersman led the appeal, while the swish of the waves below,
the sough of the sea beyond, and the sound of the wind around blended
with the voices of the suppliants and lent dignity and solemnity to the
scene.

The God of the elements,
The King of the elements,
The Spirit of the elements,
Close over us,
Ever eternally.

There are many small oratories round the West Coast where chiefs and
clansmen were wont to pray before and after voyaging. An interesting
example of these is in the island of Grimisey, North Uist. The place is
called Ceallan, cells, from 'ceall,' a cell. There were two oratories
within two hundred yards of one another. One of the two has wholly
disappeared, the other nearly. The ruin stands on a ridge near the end
of the island looking out on the open bay of Ceallan and over the stormy
Minch to the distant mountains of Mull and Morven. The oratory is known
as 'Teampull Mhicheil,' the temple of St Michael.

GOD the Father all-powerful, benign,
Jesu the Son of tears and of sorrow,
With thy co-assistance, O! Holy Spirit.
The Three-One, ever-living, ever-mighty, everlasting,
Who brought the Children of Israel through the Red Sea,
And Jonah to land from the belly of the great creature of the ocean,
Who brought Paul and his companions in the ship,
From the torment of the sea, from the dolour of the waves,
From the gale that was great, from the storm that was heavy.
When the storm poured on the Sea of Galilee,
* * * * *
* * * * *
Sain us and shield and sanctify us,
Be Thou, King of the elements, seated at our helm,
And lead us in peace to the end of our journey.
With winds mild, kindly, benign, pleasant.
Without swirl, without whirl, without eddy,
That would do no harmful deed to us.
We ask all things of Thee, O God,
According to Thine own will and word.

The Luar Na Lubre Connection

"Uah Lua"

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Luca Tarlazzi - Ilustrator

Il Druido Bianco

Try Dyn ynt Gogyfurdd,Brenin, Telynior, a Bardd.Tair unben gerdd y dydd,Prydu, Canu Telyn, a dywedyd Cyfarwyddyd.Three men of equal rank,a King, a Harpist, a Bard.Three essences of the song, to versify, to play the harp, to recite history.